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Federer, Sharapova Easily Top Opponents

UPDATED 08/30/14 12:17 a.m.

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Second-seeded Roger Federer of Switzerland has not won a grand slam in the US Open in more than two years, and at 33, some have wondered whether his time might be up.

But such was far from the case Friday night against unseeded Australian Sam Groth.

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Feder won in 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in straight sets Friday night, improving to 26 and 1 under the lights at Flushing Meadows.

Meanwhile Friday night, fan favorite Maria Sharapova of Russia was up against Sabine Lisicki of Germany. The ormer U.S. Open champion Sharapova barely survived her second-round match earlier this week, but she got out to a fast 6-2 start in the opening set over Lisicki.

Sharapova went on to beat Lisicki 6-2, 6-4.

Sharapova trailed 3-1 in the second set, but took five of the last six games after Lisicki was told by chair umpire Carlos Ramos that he thought she was receiving coaching help, which isn't allowed during Grand Slam matches.

Earlier in the day, two-time U.S. Open Champion Venus Williams was bounced, coming within two points of victory four times before succumbing to Sara Errani of Italy 6-0, 0-6, 7-6 (5).

Williams is 34, dealing with an autoimmune disease, and hasn't been to the fourth round at a major since 2011. She also played a doubles match Thursday with her sister Serena that lasted about 2 1/2 hours and finished shortly before 8 p.m.

After losing to Errani, Williams went on court again for doubles and won that one, although she was treated by a trainer.

Williams did not blame injury or fatigue for the way she failed to close out Errani, including getting broken while serving at 5-3 in the third.

"I went for too much,'' explained Williams, 3-0 against Errani until Friday.

``She just played one of the best matches of her life,'' Williams added.

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